Sightseeing:
The towering Ekambareswar Temple holds prime importance in Kanchipuram. Spread over an area of 20 acres, the gopuram (rising tower at the entrance of the temple) stands tall at 57 metres. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple has beautifully sculptured granite walls and a thousand-pillared hall. Varadaraja Perumal Temple with a 100-pillar mandapam is another architectural delight. Other temples in your itinerary should include Kailasnatha Temple, Kamakshi Amman Temple and Vaikuntha Perumal Temple. Vedanthangal and Karikili Bird Sanctuaries are located a few Km away from the town of Kanchi.
Other Activities:
Famous for its mulberry silk worldwide, Kanchipuram is the Mecca for silk saris. The best places to look for them are Nalli Silks on 54 Nellukkara Street; Kamatchi Co-optex on Gandhi Road, Sri Swami Silks on Nambi Street and the Handloom Weavers Service Centre on Station Road. Besides saris, you can also buy artefacts like candle stands and jewellery boxes made of brass, copper and stone. There aren?t any upmarket restaurants in Kanchi, but the local ones serve good South Indian dishes.
A trip to the nearby Vedanthangal and Karikili Bird Sanctuaries is a good pastime. Water birds and ducks like pintails, stilts, garganey teals and sandpipers can be seen here.
Tourism Info:
Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation Ltd
25, Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai
Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004.
Ph: 044-8546825, 8547 335, 344, 346
Kanchipuram or the City of Thousand Temples is one of the oldest temple towns of India. It is also renowned for the famed Kanjeevaram silk sarees. An epicentre of spiritual activities and learning since 10th
century, Kanchi was ruled by several dynasties including Cholas,
Pallavas and the empire of Vijayanagar, and each one imparted a
distinctive architectural style to the temples and historic monuments.
Despite Mughal and British invasions, Kanchipuram managed to retain the status of a leading pilgrim destination of India.
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